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If encryption were allowed, there would be no way to observe that hams were using their licenses in ways that comply with most of the FCC rules that differentia
by resters 3y ago
If encryption were allowed, there would be no way to observe that hams were using their licenses in ways that comply with most of the FCC rules that differentiate "amateur" from professional radio use cases.
In my view, of course many hams would use encryption in reasonable ways but quite likely other uses of the spectrum would proliferate that are explicitly forbidden by the rules that carve out the amateur service as distinct from all the other ones.
- charcircuit 3y agoThis same argument applies to all encryption. If E2EE is allowed people can't monitor that people aren't breaking the law on whatever messaging service. Privacy is deemed to be more important than being able to enforce the law.
- resters 3y ago> people can't monitor that people aren't breaking the law Typically even without encryption there are laws banning monitoring of such communications. For example, tapping into someone's analog phone line or listening to unencrypted mobile phone conversations, etc. Conversely, even system we view as private are routinely monitored by governments, etc. Amateur radio rules seem to derive both from the idea of preventing public nuisance and also the idea of public resources (like national parks, etc.). The amateur spectrum is like a park -- visitors are not allowed to open businesses on the land, nor are they allowed to be a nuisance to others.